Barf.
Today I saw the most disgusting bumper sticker on the back of Appleton's very own, albeit much toned down version of the Jesusmobile (if you are a Milwaukee native, you know what I am referring to)....Appleton's is much less obnoxious. Instead of a beat-up old station wagon it is a white car, and there is no jackass using a megaphone to tell you you're going to hell. But, the white car is plastered with stickers telling you that you're going to hell (okay, maybe I lied, but you get my point).
Anyway, the one that kind of pissed me off A LOT said this:
Friends don't let friends be homos.
WTF???
I had a burning desire to rear-end that guy, but that wouldn't be very Christian-like and despite what some people may think of me it IS possible to be Christian as well as being socially and politically liberal.
It sickens me to think that people actually think that being a "homo" (I would prefer to use the term homosexual, thanks) is a choice.
Because IT'S NOT!!
When I was younger and consequently more stupid and sheltered, I used to think that homosexual people were in the wrong.
Then I met the most amazing person who was the most sincere Christian person I have ever met. He was outgoing and fun, always had a smile on his face and totally practiced what he preached - that being a very Christian lifestyle. In fact, that person was studying to be a Lutheran pastor.
Very abruptly he left the study, and nobody knew why. It wasn't until months later that I found out why: he was gay.
His sexual orientation caused him to have to leave his ideal job, he had studied to become a pastor because he was truly a believer.
Why would someone like that CHOOSE to be gay?? Why would he CHOOSE to be completely ostracized from his religion, from his calling to be a pastor???
Yeah, I don't think that would be the choice of many.
And how could I, after that, believe that sexual orientation was a choice?? Why would anyone choose to be gay...to possibly lose family and friends who don't understand. Why would they want to pick a lifestyle that would have them running into closed doors everywhere....whether it be socially, religiously, or politically??
It sickens me to think that people could be so close minded. Homosexuality isn't a choice. I just wish that more people would realize it.
I also wish that more people, even if they were against homosexuality, would at least be open-minded to the fact that people are different from them and accept it blindly.
- posted by L. @ 7:40 PM

 
HECK YEAH!
WOOHOO! The Democrats have taken control again after 12 years!! So long to the GOP and their ridiculous ways!!
But to top it off - the Italian buttercream icing on the raspberry filling bakery made cake, Donald Rumsfeld stepped down!
Seriously folks, it doesn't get much better than that.
With a little bit of luck (it's been going so well thus far), we will have a Secretary of Defense who will have a little bit more successful tactics, rather than "we will stay the course."
Huzzah to the Democrats who have regained control in the House and the Senate!!!
Though this could prove to make the next 2 years pretty interesting.
With any luck, the Democrats will come up with a top notch candidate along the lines of Clinton to keep the Republicans out of the Oval Office in 2008 too.
Incidentally, I am much more satisfied with the outcome of my age group in 2006 than even in 2004 (I can't speak for 2002, I didn't vote and in 2000 I was only 17). Mad props to the people in our age group who actually went out and voted rather than just griping about how the elections turned out.
And as for Wisconsin politics, while the marriage amendment was passed and I'm not so happy about that, I can be very happy that we re-elected Jim Doyle, and voted Steve Kagen into the 8th District spot in the House...therefore Mark Green not only lost his bid for governor, but a Democrat took his open spot in the House...oh darn, he's out of a job (politically) soon.
Finally! There will be some change in Washington and hopefully in Madison too. So long to the GOP controlled Congress....
- posted by L. @ 11:55 PM

 
I promise it will be over soon!!
The "Fair Wisconsin Votes No!" facebook group that I'm in had someone post a pretty phenomenal letter found in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. I have to say that the person who wrote this letter to the editor pretty much summed up a lot of the things that I have been saying over and over again for the past few weeks.
In short, as I can't really articulate better than the person who wrote the letter, who, by the way, gets mad props from me, I will just attach the letter for you to read at your leisure.

Christian to gays: I'm sorry.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
Two days people.....
- posted by L. @ 12:21 AM

 
I hate these...
I hate when I have to write a blog because I'm sad.
Today I'm sad, because I received the kind of news I hate to receive.
A very close family friend died about 2 weeks ago of an apparent heart attack while traveling for business in Germany. He was 52 years old.
Those things make me sad because people who are that young (in the grand scheme of things) shouldn't die of a heart attack. They shouldn't die at all. This is the 2nd time in a year that someone who is just over 50 has died...and that is too young.
Gary was our tenant for a few years, long ago back when I was little. He used to throw Christmas presents down the back stairs and then run up the stairs like we didn't know it was him anyway. He used to watch our cat, Bear, when we were gone, and she would wander upstairs and visit him even when we were there because he would feed her people food (such as ice cream). He was the one who christened her "Hoover". He used to play his piano for me sometimes, and he was really involved with his church music.
It's been many years since he was my parents' tenant, but he still came by to visit periodically. He came to my high school graduation party and would often crash the block parties.
It's hard to think that someone like Gary could be gone. He wasn't sick, he wasn't old. But it was his time, I guess.
I hate thinking about it.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:2-3 NIV
RIP Gary, you are home now, but you will truly be missed here.
- posted by L. @ 10:19 PM